Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. The current lineup consists of lead vocalist Adam Levine, keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine, drummer Matt Flynn, keyboardist PJ Morton, and bassist Sam Farrar. Original members Levine, Carmichael, bassist Mickey Madden, and drummer Ryan Dusick formed the band in 1994 as Kara's Flowers while they were still in high school.
Formation and Early Years as Kara's Flowers
The four original members of Maroon 5 met while attending Brentwood School in Los Angeles. They formed a rock band called Kara's Flowers, named after a girl they all had a crush on. In 1997, they signed with Reprise Records and released their debut album, "The Fourth World". However, the album had a tepid response, and the band was dropped from the label. Following this, the band members went to different colleges.
Transition to Maroon 5 and 'Songs About Jane'
In 2001, the band reformed, adding guitarist James Valentine to the lineup and changing their name to Maroon 5. They also shifted their musical style, incorporating more R&B and soul influences. The band signed with Octone Records and in June 2002, released their debut album, "Songs About Jane". The album, inspired by Levine's relationship with his ex-girlfriend Jane, became a sleeper hit. Fueled by the successful singles "Harder to Breathe," "This Love," and "She Will Be Loved," the album reached number six on the Billboard 200 chart. "Songs About Jane" was the band's only album to feature original drummer Ryan Dusick, who left in 2006 due to injuries and was replaced by Matt Flynn.
Subsequent Albums and Mainstream Success
Maroon 5's sophomore album, "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," was released in May 2007 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The lead single, "Makes Me Wonder," became the band's first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100. Their third album, "Hands All Over," released in 2010, peaked at number two. While the initial singles had moderate success, the re-release of the album included the song "Moves Like Jagger" featuring Christina Aguilera, which became a global hit and the band's second number-one single.
'Overexposed' and Lineup Changes
In 2012, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael took a temporary break from the band to focus on his studies and was replaced by PJ Morton, who had been a touring member. That same year, the band released their fourth album, "Overexposed," which continued their pop-oriented sound. The album featured the hit singles "Payphone" featuring Wiz Khalifa and "One More Night," which both became international successes.
Later Career: 'V', 'Red Pill Blues', and 'Jordi'
Jesse Carmichael returned to the band in 2014 for their fifth album, "V," which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. This album was released on Interscope Records and Levine's own label, 222 Records. In 2016, longtime collaborator Sam Farrar became an official member, expanding the lineup to seven. The band's sixth studio album, "Red Pill Blues," was released in November 2017 and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. In 2020, bassist Mickey Madden departed from the band. Their seventh album, "Jordi," released in June 2021, was named in tribute to their late manager, Jordan Feldstein. The album featured the successful singles "Memories" and "Beautiful Mistakes."